Measuring-vessel



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIDEON POTTER, OF OSCEOLA, ILLINOIS.

MEASURING-VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,488, dated November 28, 1893.

Application iled February 11, 1893. Serial No. 4611911' (N0 IDOGU To a/ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, GIDEON POTTER, a citi` do declare the following to be a full, clear, andv exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference belng had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedV thereon, Whichform a part of this specification.

My lnvention consists in a novel automatic spice measurer which combines convenience 1n use With great accuracy in measuring and delivering the exact amount of each of the .several kinds of spices used; the invention being. also applicable for use in measuring and dehvering many other substances in addition to spices; and my invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, F1gure lis aperspective view of the complete measurer, with part of the outer casing broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the cans. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view, taken from another point, and further illustrating the construction of the same can.

The same numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several ligures. Referring to the several parts by their designatlng numerals, 1 indicates the central supporting post, having a suitable base 2, on yvhlch the measurer-frame is mounted so that 1t can be readily turned to bring any particular can before the operator; the post 1 pass- 1ng up through the center of said frame.

3 indicates this supporting frame, which is mounted and turns on the post 1 and in which the series of cans, 4, is mounted. The cans, 4:, are mounted, as shown, in the revolvingframe 3, and have suitable openings in their upper ends through which the spices are placed within them. Within each can is mounted a central revolving shaft, 5, to the lower part or end of which is secured a disk, 6, formed with eight (more or less) compart ments, 7, which are preferably formed by radial Wings, 8. The compartments may be made to hold any desired quantity, but are usually of such size that they will hold an ounce, each. At the outer side of the can'an opening, 9, is formed in the can-bottom, and a spout, 10, leads down from said opening. A glass slide, 11, is mounted in the side of the "can in front of its delivery opening, so that if the contents of the can become clogged, the obstruction can be readily seen, and access had thereto by opening the slide.

A cone, 12, is secured upon the shaft 5, `eX- tending up from the top of the measuringdisk 6; and a series of pins, 13, are secured on this cone and project out radially, as shown. .I ust above the measuring-disk a divisionplate, 14, is secured to the inner side of the can, having a central opening, 15, larger than the lower end of the cone, so that the spice can iiow through said opening when agitated by the pins 13, down into the inner ends of the compartments 7 and evenly fill the said compartments. It will now be seen that the Weigher can turn the frame 3, either by connected foot-power or by his hand, to bring each can as desired before him, when by turning the can-shaft 5 by the small crank-ham dle at its upper end for the proper distance one of the compartments 7 will be turned directly above the discharge opening 9, when its contents will drop down through the spout 10 into the bag or cup which is there stationed to receive it. The frame 3 is then turned to bring the can containing the kind of spice next desired before the Weigher, when the handle of that can-shaft is turned in like manner, and the contents of one or more compartments drawn into the cup or receptacle. It will be seen that the object of the cone or can to slide outward evenly to the several compartments of the measuiingdisk, while the cone stir the contents of the can and prevent it from packing.

In order to insure the turning of the canshaft 5 for the exact distance required to discharge the contents of each compartment 7 in turn, I secure upon the top of each can eight equi-distant stop-blocks, or pins, 17, arranged as shown so that the handle 16 of the shaft 5 will come in contact with one of these stops when it has been turned far enough to bring one measuring-compartment, 7, directly pyramid 12 is to cause the contents of the` the pins projecting out from the surface of t IOO over the discharge-opening 9 in the can-bottom; the stops being of such height that the crank-handle can be pressed over them by the finger when it is desired to empty the next compartment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A spice measurer comprising a can or receptacle having the bottom discharge opening and spout, a central revolving shaft, the measuring-disk secured thereon and having the series of measuring compartments, and the division-plate secured in the can above the measuring-disk; and having a central opening through which said shaft passes substantially as set forth.

2. A spice measurer comprising a can or receptacle having the bottom discharge opening and spout, a central revolving shaft, the measuring-disk secured on the lower end of said shaft and having the series of measuring compartments, the cone secured upon the shaft above said measuring-disk, and the division-plate secured in the can above the measuring-disk; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A spice measurer comprising a can or receptacle having the bottom discharge opening and spout, a central revolving shaft, the 3o measuring-disk secured on the lower end of said shaft and having the series of measuring compartments, the cone secured upon the shaft above said measuring-disk and having the series of stirring-pins projecting from it, and the division-plate secured in the can above the measuring-disk; substantially as set forth.

4. A spice measurer comprising a can or receptacle having the bottom discharge opening and spout, a central revolving shaft having a crank-handle on its upper end, the measuring-disk secured on the lower end of said shaft and having the series of measuring compartments, the division-plate secured in the can above the measuring-disk, and having a central opening through Which said shaft passes and the series of equidistant stops secured on the top of the can and adapted to engage with the handle of the revolving shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GIDEON POTTER.

Witnesses:

W. E. WHAPLES, C. M. CARPENTER. 

